Summer Designs For Your Garden

If you’re like the team here at MPK Conversions & Construction then as soon as the sun gets his hat on you’re soaking up those rays in the garden or entertaining guests with a tasty BBQ and beers. Whatever you’re using your garden for this summer, these great ideas will bring the summertime vibes – all we have to hope for is some sunshine! If you are hosting visitors over the summer holidays, have you got enough room? If not then MPK can advise you on how to best increase the living space in your home with an extension, loft or garage conversion.

Bougainvillea is a fantastic choice to add a pop of colour and mediterranean feel. Think white classic Spanish and Portuguese houses with beautiful rich purple flowers. Bougainvillea is a fairly easy one to take care of, although prolonged cold periods could kill the plant, so take care when the winter months come. Bougainvillea grows well in borders or large containers so choose whatever suits your garden best.

There’s nothing that screams summer nights like an outdoor fire – choose a stylish firepit or chiminea for the centre of a patio seating area to create a nice focal point as well as add warmth in the evenings.

One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to update your garden for the summer is to get creative with what you already have. Is your patio furniture looking a little tired? Wooden furniture can be restained or painted in vibrant colours (check it’s suitable for exteriors first!). Metal can be resprayed or painted and fabrics can be recovered. Why not choose a funky Hawaiian hibiscus print or stylish Ikat print? Looking on ebay and local selling sites is also a great way to revamp your garden without breaking the bank.

There’s nothing worse than stumbling around in the dark at a BBQ – not only is it dangerous for your guests (and crockery), it doesn’t create a particularly festive atmosphere. Choosing a selection of outdoor lights such as solar powered low lighting to highlight pathways, string lights to adorn trees, and more substantial light sources will create the ambiance needed for a lovely summer gathering.

Make the foliage your wallpaper! If you have boring fencing or walls in the garden you can easily create a wall of foliage using living wall planters. Not only will the added greenery lift the colour and feel of your garden, you’ll also be creating a little environment for garden pollinators to visit.  

Enjoy the outside without the pests and enjoy summer evenings in the garden with plenty of citronella candles to ward off the mosquitoes (and who doesn’t love candlelight?) Outdoor heating solutions are also a great way to keep the party going after the sun has gone down.

Keep some of it wild for nature’s sake! It’s no secret that there are many different pollinators who are on the endangered list. Without these insects doing their fantastic work we would have less fruits and vegetables to eat – about 35% of the plants humans consume require animal pollination. Bees and butterflies absolutely love nettles and dandelions – so consider allowing at least a small part of your garden to become a little overgrown as you’ll be helping to ensure our food supply in the future!